Attendance
What the Law says...
The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational needs they may have.
Parents/ Carers have a legal responsibility to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.
For children receiving full time education at a school, parents/ carers have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. Regular attendance means their child must attend every day that they are expected to attend.
If a child of compulsory school age fails to attend regularly at the school at which they have been registered the parents/carer may be guilty of an offence and can be prosecuted by the local authority.
Why does regular attendance matter?
Consistent school attendance allows your child to:
- Fully engage in their learning & make progress
- Develop friendships and social skills to interact with other children and grown ups
- Grow in confidence in a supportive and nurturing school environment
- Build a sense of routine and responsibility, essential for future success
The School Day
School officially starts at 8.40am. Your child MUST be in school at this time. (doors open from 8.35am)
Registration is at 8.40am and 12.55pm.
Classroom doors and the side gates leading to the playground will be closed at 8.40am
Any child arriving after this time must report to the school office. This means that they will receive an ‘L’ which is a late mark.
Registration closes at 9.00am. Any child arriving after this time will receive a ‘U’ which is an unauthorised absence.
Attendance Support
We understand that some children may face challenges that impact of their attendance. We are here to offer support and guidance to any family in such situations.
If you are struggling or have difficulties related to attendance please do contact the Head. We are happy to have a chat over a cuppa to see if we can help.
Acceptable Reasons for Absence
We recognise that there are circumstances where a child’s absence can’t be avoided.
Acceptable reasons for being absent from school include:
Illness: when your child is unwell, however, children can attend with minor ailments (cold, sore throat, headache, stomach ache)
Medical Appointments: If your child has an appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, please notify us in advance and provide relevant documentation, e.g. an appointment card
Religious observance: we respect the diverse culture and religious backgrounds of our children. If your child needs to be absent for religious observance, please notify us in advance, so this can be approved by the Headteacher.
Exceptional Circumstances: Parents/ carers must put their request in writing in advance to the head teacher. Term time holidays will not be agreed. If the absence is not authorised by the head teacher and the child does not attend school, Stockport Council may issue an Education Penalty Notice.
How do I report an unplanned absence?
If a pupil is absent from school, parents/ carers are expected to:
- Contact school on the first day their child is absent, giving the reason for absence, and on every further day of absence (except where a doctor’s report has already been provided indicating an expected return date).
- By 8.30am on each day of absence, parents/ carers should contact the school office and leave a message on the school phone system or speak to a member of staff in the office. Parents/ carers should give the exact reason for the absence rather than being generic, e.g. vomiting rather than ill.
- Ensure that their child returns to school as soon as possible.
- Provide any medical evidence, if requested, to support the absence.
- Proactively contact school for support where they are concerned about their child’s attendance by speaking to their child’s class teacher or the Head.
Penalty Notice Fines
Term-time holidays are not permitted during the school year.
With the introduction of the new National Framework for Penalty Notices, the following changes will come into force after 19th August 2024.
First Offence: The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or unauthorised irregular attendance, the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child within 28 days. Reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.
Second Offence: The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or unauthorised irregular attendance in relation to the same child, the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.
Third Offence and any further offences (within 3 years) The third or subsequent time an offence is committed in relation to the same child for term-time leave or unauthorised irregular attendance within three years of the first fine, a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and instead the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates’ Court fines can be up to £2500 per parent per child.
Rewards for Good Attendance
Bank of Fairway:
In celebration assembly, the top three classes receive money which is deposited in their class bank account. At the end of the academic year each class votes on how they will spend the funds.
Certificates for good attendance:
Any child who achieves over 95% attendance each half-term will receive a congratulatory certificate.
Any child who achieves 100% attendance each half-term will receive a congratulatory certificate and a prize.
Golden 100%:
In our final celebration assembly, any child who achieves 100% attendance for the whole year will receive a gift voucher.
Punctuality
Regularly arriving late to school is unsettling for your child and can have a negative impact on their engagement in school life.
Arriving late:
- Means they often miss the beginning of lessons and may miss key learning that hinders them to follow the rest of the class, affecting comprehension and retentions of learning.
- Can impact how they are seen by their peers. They may be perceived as unreliable or disorganised, which impacts their ability to form and maintain friendships.
- Can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. This stress can build up over time and affect their overall well-being and attitude towards school. This can then lead to negative self-perceptions and a reduced sense of belonging within the school community.
- Can establish behavioural patterns that continue into adulthood, including habitual lateness in the workplace and affecting job performance and career prospects.
If your child arrives late, this will be marked in the register. If your child arrives after 9am this will be recorded as unauthorised absence for the whole morning.
Persistent Absence
Any child with attendance of 90% or below (regardless of the reason for any absences) is considered to be a persistent absentee by the government. This equates to missing 19 school days, 3.8 weeks and ½ a day of school every week.
If your child is persistently absent and causing a concern, the school might organise a meeting to find out what barriers there are impacting on your child’s regular attendance and what support is needed to help improve attendance.
This may result in the creation of an Improving Attendance Plan or referrals to services such as Family Help, who may be able to provide your family with additional support. During this time, it is important for you to work with the school supporting the reasonable adjustments and strategies put in place by school.
Depending on the reasons for absence and the level of engagement, a referral for prosecution may be made to Stockport Council.